CA2191738A1

CA2191738A1 - Environmental protection device with manually operated latch mechanism

Info

Publication number: CA2191738A1
Application number: CA002191738A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jeff Sampson
Original assignee: Raychem Corp
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-01
Filing date: 1995-05-17
Publication date: 1995-12-07
Also published as: BR9507832A; AU2587695A; NZ287225A; SK153596A3; US5525073A; CZ349396A3; PL317430A1; EP0763271A1; US5674089A; KR970703636A; WO1995033294A1; JPH10504174A

Abstract

An environmental protection device (100) with manually operated latching mechanism is described. The device (100) includes a rigid hook (24) and a latch (22) and bracing member (28) on opposite peripheral edges of the device (100) with cavity halves (12a, 12b) therebetween capable of fitting together upon the latching of the hook (24) and latch (22) to form an enclosure around a substrate such as a coaxial cable splice or a cable to tap port connection or an automotive wire tab termination upon the closing of the device (100) and the locking of the latch (22) and hook (24) members. The device (100) is preferably filled with a gel sealing material having an elongation of at least 100 % and a Voland hardness from about 1 to 50 grams.

Description

WO95133294 . 2 1 9 1 738 }~I,v~ ~ ~2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEVICE WITH MANUALLY OPERATED
LATCH MECHANISM

RPI~tpr~ lns This is a continuation-in-part a,, ' " , of US Serial No. 08/252,016 filed June 1, 1994, the ;~ of which is Co~ ly i,,..u,~,o, ' -' herein by reference for all purposes.

~0 Techni~l FiPlrl of the Inventinrl This invention relates to em~ilu"",t"lLdl sealing and protection devices.
More Sr lly, this invention relates to hinged sealant filled envi,u"",erlldl sealing devices. In particular, this invention relates to gel filled e"./i.u"",er,ldl 15 sealing closures for coaxial cables splices and/or cable connector to radio frequency source tap ports, and the like.

rnl ~rld of thP Inventinn When an eiongate substrate such as a coaxial or telephone or electrical cable is spliced or othenwise l~""i" ' ' and connected to a housing or device, it is necessary to protect the cable ~""eulul:, including the exposed interior conductors, the connector body and the port or splice to which the connector may be attached or the signal will be adversely affected. More ~r ' ~Iy, when 25 a coaxial cable is spliced both the exposed interior of the cable and the co""e.,Lion must be protected from moisture ingress to pemmit a high quality signal to be llall~,llitl~u across the spice or lldll C~ l~d to the interior of the splitter box or amplifier or extracted from the splitter or the amplifier.

Within the past several years, gel materials such as silicone gels, polyurethane gels, polyurea gels, Ihc:llllu~JIcl~lk. elastomer gels such as Kraton~
or Septon~) based polymeric materials and extender oils, and the like have been used to seal elongate substrates. Both of these Ihe:llllùpla:~lic systems are various configuration of triblock copolymers such as styrene-ethylenebutylene-35 styrene, styrene-ethylt:nt:~,, u~ ne-styrene, and mixed " IklLlul,k~:d styrene-ethylene-butylene/ethyl~,n~p, u~,~lene-styrene polymers. The silicones are generally derived from either lightly cross-linked pol,vu,ydnosiliAd,,e materials and/or extended polyuly~.,usiliAdi,e materials where the extender is generally of WO 9S/33294 2 ~ 9 1 7 3 8 P~ 7 --2-- ~
lower molecular weight non-reactive silicone such as a silicone oil or fluid.
These gels most effectively seal for reentry when the elongate substrate is sealed under CO~,u~t ssiun and not potted by the gel around the substrate. More spe~,iri~:'y, the gel is generally cured apart from at least a portion of the 5 substrate and thereafter brought into contact with the complete substrate and in the preferred e",bodi",e:"ts, placed under co",,u,~ssiol, to seal the substrate through either a spring or restraining the displaced movement of the gel with anenclosure. Suitable examples reciting gels andlor enclosures are illustrated in US Patents 4,610,730; 4,909,756; 4,859,809; 4,600,261; 4,634,207; 4,942,270;
4,639,284; 4,595,635; 4,777,063; 4,716,183; and 4,998,894. The complete disclosures of each of these patents are i"~,or~.o, ' ' herein by reference for all purposes. Optionally, the gel may be r,dy",e"'~.d material as taught by US
5,229,058 and/or 5,286,516, the complete disclosures of which are also i, ,..or,uor~ d herein by reference for all purposes.

An earlier hinged gel-filled security and envi,u"",entdl protection device was taught in WO 92/22116 (US 07/712,320 filed June 7, 1991 and a CIP
thereof 071988,050 filed December 7, 1992), the disclosures of these -rr~ " )5 are completely ill~,ul~Juldted herein by reference for all purposes.
20 Although effective, especially for sealing coaxial cable splices, these devices had a tendency to pop open if dropped and/or oversized co""e..lu,a were inserted into the device. In addition, it was often cullaidelt:d cu,,,Le,au,,,e to insert a screwdriver or other splitting means to open the device. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a manually opening device as well as one which has a 25 tendency to remain closed even if the .,ldr~a~Jelau" selects a slightly oversized connector to be sealed within the unit.

~l lmm~q~ of the Inven':~n The invention provides for the previously recited desirable features as well as many other features obvious to the ordinary skilled artisan. In general, the invention is a restrained hook and latch ",e~;l,a~ ", for an enclosure. More speuiri~l:j, the device can lock around an elongate substrate such as a coaxial cable splice or over the end of a coaxial cable connector and a splitter or 35 amplifier port to protect the coaxial cable, the connector and device to which it is attached. An ~ " " ' ._ c:",bodi",~"l can seal other substrates such as relatively flat substrates like tab automotive wire l~llllilldliuils. The device may be removed by flexing the latching ",~:~,I,ania",. The latching l"e~,l,d";~", of the

2 1 9 1 738 WO 9 il33294 A ~. I/U.,_ _. . . 7

3-invention provides a positive locking latch that holds the device together at higher loads than the previously described WO 92/22116 devices. However, a unique aspect of the locking latch system permits a low mate and release force in Co~ Jdl i:~vl) to its high holding force so that it can be mated and demated with no 5 tools. Additionally, the design of the preferred device permits two of the units to be put together in a reverse fashion to provide for sealing parallel cables con"e~ Lu, . splices and automotive tab te~ dliuns. In this elllLo.iilllelll of course the hinge between the units is not used due to the planar configuration of the two halves abutting together but a tie-wrap or other member can secure the 10 abutting central hinges if necessary. Additional e"lL,odi",e"ts include a device aois_."L,led together with a second such device so that the hook member of the second device is in latching el ,~age",e"l with the latch member of the first device and the hook member of the first device is in latching en~dge",1"l with the latch member of the second device.

BriPf Dp~ri4~ rl of the Drawir~

Figure 1 illustrate an angled pel~Jeu';~c view of an e"lL,o.li",er,l of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates an angled perspective view of the opposite side of the Lo.li,,,_.,t of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sc~ t;vnal view of the elllLOdi"lelll of the 25 invention in Figures 1 and 2 in the open position.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the elllbOdilll~lll of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 in the closed position.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of an alternative elnlJodill~e"l of the invention preferably used with elongate wire tab le,,,,i,,dliu,,~.

Figure 6 is an oblique angle view of the cavity portions of the connector of figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view rotated 180~ about the longitudinal central hinging axis of the cavity halves of the device of Figures 5 and 6.

WO 9S/33294 2 1 9 1 7 3 8 F~~ 7 Descr~tion ofthe Preferred ~n,l.n~ e~l:

The invention will be described with particular reference to the appended drawings. Figures 14 should be viewed together to ulldelaldlld the preferred illustrated t:",budi",er,l of the invention. More a,ue~,iri~l'y, the preferred ell~/i.ul~ lltdl protection device is illustrated as 1û0 in each of the figures. All the figures should be viewed together when referring to n particular numbered element for an overall view of the various perspectives and p~- " ,i"g in the preferred described ~ bOdill~

The en~,i,u"",e"ldl seal and locking device 100 includes two halves 10a and 10b joined by a living hinge 14 such as a thin piece of the same plastic as halves 10a and 10b to hold the device 100 open during gel filling and curing while permitting the opposed halves 10a and 10b to fold thereabouts to lock intothe enclosure about the substrate to be sealed.

Optionally, a breakable web, not illustrated, as taught in WO 92122116 can be used to assist holding the device open during sealant filling upt:ldt;vns.
Halves 10a and 10b include culll~dlllll~ 12a and 12b fommed by closing the ends of the two halves with thin sections 16a and 16b and 20a and 20b. Each section has a more rigid outer shoulders 18a and 18b and rigid sections oppositethereto for thin sections 16a and 16b. These rigid sections ~ "~ " the overall enclosure. The thin sections 16a and 16b and 20a and 20b collapse and/or stretch upon the closing of the device around a coaxial cable, cable connector or cable tap splice. Suitable materials for the device 100 are poly,., u~ e, nylon,polyethylene and the like or any suitable impact resistant and weather resistantnon-conroding material which has hinging properties to the material. Optionally,not illustrated, the hinge 14 can be a standard molded hinge of plastic, metal or other suitable materials rotatable about a central pin member. Under this option, the body material 100 need not have living hjllYe~ Ajll9 properties.

The device 100 further includes the main cavity formed upon the closing of the device as illustrated by the prefenred semi-circular partial cavities 10a and 10b. The .,o" ~ sl~t~,lldul~ end seals 16a and 16b and 20a and 20b provide ends pieces which restrain the gel upon the filling of the cavity 12a and 12b. A suitable sealing material substantially fills the cavity such as a silicone gel (such as a polyulydllusiluAdlle gel), a polyurea gel, a polyurethane gel or any , .. .. , . . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ WO 95133294 2 1 ~ 1 7 3 8 r~ 7 _S_ suitable gel seaiing material. Preferred gels have cone pe~ ldliull pe,i",~te:,a as measured by ASTM D-217 of about 100 to 400 (10-1mm) preferably between about 200-350 (10-1mm) an ultimate elongation as measured by ASTM D-638 of greater than about 100~/0 and preferably greater than about 200% and most 5 preferably greater than about 400~/0 as measured at the higher test speed.

The y_:s/seald,lts may also be ~hdld~ d by a VolandlStevens texture analyzer. It is preferred that the gel have a hardness of from about 1 to about 50 grams, preferably 5 to about 30 grams and especially 18 to 28 grams having a stress relaxation of between 1 to 55~/0. Although not believed to be a critical aspect of this en\,i,~"""~"ldl closure, the gel has preferably a tack from about 5 to 40 grams and preferably 9 to 35 grams. The hardness, stress relaxation, and tack is measured using a Voland/Stevens texture analyzer model LFRA having a 1,000 gram load cell, a 5 gram trigger, and a 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) ball probe as 15 described in US 5,079,300 (Debrow et. al.) the disclosure of which is -- i,,uu,,uu, ' ' herein by reference. More particularly the hardness is measured using a 20 ml glass ~ llilldlillg vial containing about 10 to 12 grams of gel. The vial is placed in the analyzer and the stainless steel ball probe is forced into the gel at a speed and 0.20 ,,,,,,/sccu,,d to penetrate a distance of 4 mms. The gram 20 force necessary to penetrate 4 mm is the hardness. Higher numbers are harder gels.

More generally, although gel materials within the p~,i",~t~ previously described are preferred, any suitable sealing material which can wrap around the2B cable tap port andlor the cable splice and seal out the ingress of moisture is suitable for use in the invention. Gels are preferred because as extended solid systems they do not flow the way greases do upon high l~:",, ' ~re thermal cycling.

Particularly preferred materials are gels by Raychem Corporation under having name Gel Tek~ gel, tough silicone gel number T894, preferably T854, or a silicone based gel number 612 sold by the Gemmany Warker or a Dow Corning gel called Oyl~d,d;~S~/.

Alternatively, a Iht~ pld~liu elastomer can be used such as a mixture of a Kraton~) or Septon~ polymer with sufficient plasticizer oil to form a Kraton~) or a Septon~) based Illellllu,uld~ti~. gel. The Kraton~ or Septon(~ gels are polymers of the styrene-ethylene butylene andlor ethylene-propylene-styrene

4 2 1 9 1 7 3 8 p~.",~

configuration. The gels are from about 3-5~/O maybe up to 20% polymer and from 80-97% plasticizer oil. The 3-5~/0 polymer pe,~e"ldges extended 95-97~/0 by a napthenie oil are preferred. In the event that the sealing material is a Ll,e""u,ula ,ti~. elastomer gel then the cc~" ~pi;~ end pieces 16a and 16b and 20a s and 20b are optional because the ll,e""opldaLic nature of the gel pemmits the enclosure be filled with the end portions blocked in a mold and upon cooling thegel remains in place. All~lll ' .131y, the latch member may be braced and the hook member flexed to release the latching engdgel~

The enclosure 100 includes a latch 22 which is the releasing member and a rigid hook 24 with i"' di"ildle:d raised portiûn 26 closer to an edge than thehook 24 and a channel 30 on the latch side to receive the ridge 26. The latch side also has a ridge 28 which is reoeived in a channel in the hook side. These ridge and channels restrain movement of the hook and latch in the vertical direction of Figure 4. The use of a rigid hook 24 and flexible latch 22 which is the opposite of the common ",e,,l,anicàl configurations, provides a positive lockinglatch that holds together at higher loads before releasing. However, the latch has a low mate and release force in COlll,udl iaùn to its high holding force so that it can be demated with no tools, i.e. demated by hand. More specially, the latch is 20 sized for an enclosing and RG 59/RG6 connector and will hold loads of up to 20 Ibs force while releasing at a force less than 10 Ibs. The movement of the latch22, illustrated by the arrow 36 in Figures 2, 3, and 4, provides the hook releasing Ille~:lldllialll. The selection of a plastic with a living hinge property pemmits the flexing of the latch along its hinge line in a likewise manner to hinge 14. The 2s ridges and channels 26, 28, and 30 interlock to add additional strength and rigidity to the device upon closure as illustrated in Figure 4.

Optionally, the device includes apertures 32a and 32b and 34a and 34b which upon closing of the device pemmit the additional adding of tie wraps or like 30 items for an even more positive and firm closing.

A further unique feature of the device is that because of its uniform overall nature two separate halves can be reversed and snapped together to create an enclosure having two cavities if parallel lines of coaxial cables need to be sealed.

The present enclosure provides an even more positive locking ",e~l,d"ia", and higher locking forces than described in WO 92/22116 the, ~ ' 1 of which is culll,.,l~,t~.!y i"cu".u, ' ' herein by reference for all purposes as well as -.

W~95133294 , ~, 21 9 1 738 r~".,~

US a"' ~, Serial No. 07/712,320 and 07/988,050 likewise il~wl,uuldL~d herein by reference for all purposes.

.
Additional preferred e"lbo-li",ents of the invention are illustrated in

5 Figures 5, 6, and 7. The features in this alternative ~",Lodi",t:"l are ill~,ol,uuldldbl~ into the preferred ~",boui",~"L illustrated in Figures 1 through 4.
More s~,e.;iri~ 'y, Figures 5-7 illustrate the function of the bracing member such that the preferred rigid hook and flexible latch member can both flex while providing s~ ldll" 'Iy the same higher holding force. Naturally the hook could 1C be rigid in this example as well. Similar elements in Figures 5 through 7 arenumbered the same last two digits and thus reference should be made to all these figures in conjunction with this preferred e"lbodi",t:"t.

In particular, the device 200 is designed to receive a planar substrate such 15 as a plurality of wires onto a metallic tab connector, fitting within the cavity halves 212a and 212b upon the closure of the device about a hinge preferably a plastic living hinge 214. The cavity halves include pin members 250, 252 and 256 to locate the tab wire l~""i" " , substrate. Optionally, ~I,t, _",t:";"g ribs 270 and feet 260 are used to hold the device open and assist with uniform filling and/or20 additional structural rigidity of the device. Webbed members 216a, 216b, 220a, and 220b provide dams to create the cavities for filling with the sealant material.
These damns should be sufficiently thin that they can break away or flex upon the closing of the cavity halves about the substrate. Of course, if a lht:llllu~ld;~ti~.
elastomer system is used and these dams are blocked by a mold during filling Z5 then these elements can be dispensed with.

The hook 224 with a ledge 240 fits within the gap 244 fommed between the latch 222 with the ledge 242 and the bracing member 228. The latch as the releasing member flexes towards the body about a living hinge such as a plastic 30 living hinge 223. The gap 244 is sized so that there is sufficient overlap between the ledges 240 and 242 such that the gap 244 is insufficient to pemmit the body halves to spring apart in the absence of a movement of the latch 222 by an outside intervention. In other words, the hook 224 passes through the gap 244 either by flexing or flexing the latch 222 and upon passing therethrough is braced 35 against outward flexure upon torquing or attaching around an oversized substrate by the bracing member 228.

, WO95/3329~ 21 (t I 7 J 8 r~

Since the force to open the cavity halves flexes the hook 224 outwards away from the closed body, the bracing member 228 prevents such flexing so that the burst open force is subaLd"li..:'y higher than in the absence of the bracing member 228 and pemmits the extension of the invention to be indifferent 5 to whether the hook 224is rigid or flexes. Of course, this same bracing memberis evident in the e",l,odi",~,lt of Figures 1-4 but in that preferred t:",bodi",~"l it was chosen to have a rigid hook which lessens the need for the bracing member as the stiffness integrates this function. The bracing member merely further reinforces the particularly preferred er"l,odi" ~t~"l of a rigid hook.

The interior of the semi-circular cavities 16a and 16b may optionally include ribs or be glow discharge treated during manufacture to enhance the affflnity of the sealing material to adhere thereto. The roughened surface treatment, EDM texture within the parts optionally also allows for increased 15 surface area and the Illi~,luaCulJiG undercuts which further improve the gel adhesion to the shell. Although the device has been described with respect to particularly preferred elllbodi~ l and sized to use with an RG59/RG6 cables splices and tap ports or wire tab automotive conne~,tu,~, it can be sized to aGcul ' 'l ' ' ' ' any cable co", ,euliun and/or le:" "i, IdtiUI 1.

r~ which would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are cu,,' ", ' ' to be within the scope of the invention. For example, a closure wherein the flrst and second body members are separate from each other, the first body member carries a hook member on a peripheral edge portion spaced 25 from that canying the latch member, and the second body member carries a latch member and a hook bracing member on a peripheral edge portion spaced from that carrying the hook member, the dllclllyelllt:lll being such that the respective body members can be latched together by latching enydy~l"c:"l of the hook member carried by each with the latch member carried by the other.
30 Additionally the hook and ' ' h/bld~,illy member can be used to join any two substrates or members together such as a fence, and the like.

Thus, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various " "~ " ,~ may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. With the foregoing in 35 mind, it is understood that the invention be accorded the full scope of the appended claims, including all equivalents.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. An environmental protection device for a substrate passing therethrough and/or thereinto, the said device comprising:

a first body member which includes a latch member and a hook-bracing member spaced therefrom by a sufficient gap to accept a hook therebetween the said latch and bracing members being adjacent to and extending along a peripheral edge of the first body member, the hook-bracing member provides resistance to the flexing of the hook away from the closed body and a second body member having a hook-member on a peripheral edge portion opposable to the latch member on the first body member, the respective body members forming a cavity to enclose around a substrate upon closing together of the body members and latching engagement of the hook and latch members;

wherein the latch and hook members have mating force and release force which are less than the holding force of the said latching engagement, and either the latch member or the hook member (or both) is (are) arranged to be flexible so as to release the said latching engagement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second body members are connected together by a hinge arranged to bring the hook and latch members into latching engagement upon hinging closure of the device.

3. The device according to Claim 2 wherein the latch and hook receptacle members hinge about a plastic hinge between cavity halves.

4. The device according to claim 2 assembled together with a second such device so that the hook member of the second device is in latching engagement with the latch member of the first device and the hook member of the first device is in latching engagement with the latch member of the second device.

The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second body members are separate from each other, the first body member carries a hook member on a peripheral edge portion spaced from that carrying the latch member, and the second body member carries a latch member and a hook bracing member on a peripheral edge portion spaced from that carrying the hook member, the arrangement being such that the respective body members can be latched together by latching engagement of the hook member carried by each with the latch member carried by the other.

6. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one edge includes an elongate ridge capable of being received in a trough on an opposite peripheral edge, said ridge and trough assisting in the closing of the cavity halves.

7. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch and/or the hook is (are) arranged to be manually flexible to release the latched device.

8. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein either the latch or the hook (or both) has (have) an extension projecting beyond the latching portions of the hook and latch, by which exterior manual flexing may be effected to release the latched device.

9. The device according to any preceding claim, wherein the latch member is flexible and the hook member is relatively rigid (relative to the latch member).

10. The device according to any preceding claim wherein the cavity halves are filled with a sealant material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane gel, a silicone gel, a thermoplastic elastomer with plasticizing oil gel, or a polyurea gel.

11. The device according to any preceding claim wherein the body is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, nylon, and polyetheylene.

12. The device according to any preceding claim wherein the gel has a Voland hardness of from about 10 to about 50 grams and an ultimate elongation of at least about 100%.

13. The device according to any preceding claim further including passages through opposite peripheral edges of the device to provide means for securing members to pass therethrough on the closure of the device.

14. The device according to any preceding claim wherein the interior of the cavity halves includes a surface treatment selected from the group consisting of chemical etching, glow discharge etching, and a plurality of ribs molded therein to enhance the adhesion of the gel thereto.

15. The device according to any preceding claim further including two coaxial cable connectors spliced together across a coaxial cable splice and sealed within the cavity of the cavity halves.